The Best Countries For Vegans Based on 6+ Years of Travel

Anyone who has ever traveled for an extended period of time knows how difficult it is to answer that question, and we're no exception.

In fact, the more we travel the harder it gets. There are just too many aspects that play a part, and each place we visit offers something unique.

That being said, as two people that love food, we travel in search of unforgettable culinary experiences.

Naturally, it makes sense that our favorite travel destinations are some of the most vegan-friendly countries in the world. And even though we can't pick just one favorite, we do have several.

So, which countries are the easiest to travel in as a vegan?

After 6+ years of extended travel, we've found the following destinations to be the best countries for vegans.

We hope this list will inspire your wanderlust and help you decide on your next travel destination or give you the push you need to venture outside of your comfort zone and try some new local delights.

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Sri Lanka

When we first arrived in Sri Lanka in 2014 after a 24+ hour journey from the United States, we had one thing on our minds: food.

Lucky enough, our accommodation was just down the street from one of the many pure vegetarian restaurants in Colombo.

So, within 2 hours of landing in Sri Lanka, we had a table covered in thalis, dosas, idlis, and other vegan delights.

The staff at the restaurant looked at us in awe as we shoveled food in our mouths for a solid hour before we headed back to the hostel and passed out from a combination of jetlag and food coma.

The day after we stumbled upon a small local restaurant specializing in Sri Lankan breakfast, and this is where our love for string hoppers and Sri Lankan coconut sambal began.

Needless to say, this nameless local hole in the wall quickly became our go-to spot...until we left Colombo that is. Because as soon as we ventured out of Colombo, life-changing food experiences were everywhere to be found!

Everywhere we went the locals cooked up mouthwatering vegan food with flavors that were completely new to us.

We tried jackfruit for the first time and had to triple check with the chef that it wasn’t chicken.

We ate papadums like there was no tomorrow on the beach in Unawatuna, and were served some of the best food we’ve had to this day.

Seriously, we didn't have a single bad meal anywhere in Sri Lanka, an extremely impressive feat to say the least.

The best part about Sri Lanka, however, is the traditional custom of serving a feast.

When we ordered one curry, we were served at least two additional curries, endless amounts of rice, and several side dishes. It was heaven for two gluttons like us.

Favorite Dish: String hoppers with coconut sambal.

Favorite Restaurant: Any small family owned restaurant will blow you away!

Italy

Italy is sort of an ironic paradox.

The country is known for its world-class cheeses and prosciutto, but believe it or not, Italy is also one of the best countries for vegans in the world.

Yes, Italians have a love for cheese that’s only shared by the French. And yes, they do eat croissants and drink cappuccinos every morning.

But guess what? You can find vegan versions of all the country's best delights from vegan croissants to vegan parmesan!

Italians also have a love for food in general, and they definitely understand both the health and the ethical aspect of veganism.

In fact, during the last few years alone, Italy has developed into somewhat of a trendsetter for the European vegan scene.

So what do you eat as a vegan in Italy?

Well besides all of the obvious dishes such as vegetarian pizza without cheese and pasta pomodoro, you’ll have plenty of choices. Much of the Italian cuisine is vegan by default.

Most restaurants serve a ton of vegetables and pasta dishes, many cafes have started offering vegan croissants, and we still haven’t been to a cafe that doesn’t offer soy milk.

And let’s not forget the huge selection of vegan gelato offered at every gelateria we've been to.

There is even artisanal Italian vegan cheese that’s good enough to trick even the most stubborn meat eater.

In addition to eating at “traditional” restaurants, a city like Rome has a bustling vegan scene.

In fact, several of our most loved vegan restaurants are located in the Eternal City.

Flower Burger, for example, is an all-vegan burger chain that originally opened in Milano more than 10 years ago. It didn't take long for their reputation to spread, and today they have a dozen restaurants spread across Europe.

India

In our opinion, India is one of the most vegan-friendly countries, especially Southern India.

The combination of incredible spices and flavors, the variation of textures, and the sheer number of Indian dishes that are vegan by default makes traveling as a vegan in the southern regions of India a breeze.

India is also home to our favorite dish, the masala dosa; a savory crepe stuffed with spicy potato curry.

However, the best part is that most Indian food is super healthy, packed full of legumes, vegetables, and flavorful spices.

Further North it can be a bit more difficult to be vegan.

Generally speaking, North Indians use much more dairy and ghee (clarified butter) than South Indians.

With that said, we ourselves didn't find it to be so much of an issue.

We recommend trying to stick to pure vegetarian restaurants, of which there are plenty, and simply requesting no ghee. Or opt for safe dishes such as potato paratha and papadums.

Favorite Dish: Masala Dosa

Favorite Restaurant: Bean Me Up in Goa

Poland

We were quite skeptical of the vegan scene in Warsaw when we first got on a plane to visit Poland, or at least Adam was.

Despite reading that Poland was one of the best vegan countries, we still had our doubts. We pictured an old and gray Soviet city and were quite frankly a bit nervous about what we would be eating.

We couldn’t have been more wrong.

To this day, Warsaw remains one of the most vegan-friendly cities we have ever been to, and after visiting Krakow this summer, we can confirm that there is plenty of amazing vegan food there as well.

A few years ago, we went on a full day excursion that started at a market where we stocked up on supplies for the day. Then we headed back to a local organic farm where we spent the rest of the day learning how to prepare some of our favorite Balinese dishes.

Favorites Dish: Tempeh Goreng

Favorite Restaurant: Sage in Ubud

United States

Trying to cover all of the vegan food in the US would be a massive project so we’ll focus on what we know best: New York.

In the mood for Mexican food? Then Jajaja, our new favorite vegan restaurant in NYC, will get the job done.

Want a real New York experience with a vegan slice of pie? Check out Screamers in Brooklyn or one of Two Boots several locations.

Moreover, Beyond Sushi is an innovative, all-vegan sushi chain with a handful of location spread across Manhattan.

When visiting NYC, eating burgers is one of our favorite past times and the list of vegan burger joints is long. Cinnamon Snail, the Organic Grill, By Chloe, Blossom du Jour, Bareburger (not all-vegan), and Marty’s V Burger to name a few.

In addition, there is a whole array of ethnic restaurants serving everything from vegan Ethiopian and Indian food, to Chinese and Middle Eastern, as well as a handful of vegan fine dining restaurants and vegan bakeries with Dunwell Donut being one of our top picks.

All things considered, if you combine NYC’s incredible vegan options with all the other amazingly vegan-friendly cities in the US, it should come as no surprise that the United States is one of best countries for vegans in the world.

Favorite Dish: Jajaja's Chorizo Burrito

Favorite Restaurang: Champ's Diner in Brooklyn

Thailand

Thailand is easily one of the most vegan countries in Asia thanks to the incredible range of vegan food on offer.

From cities like Bangkok and Chiang Mai to the islands of Koh Lanta and Koh Samui, you will be spoiled for choice.

We love that in Bangkok you can eat vegan waffles, chocolate smoothies, and pizzas that rival those served in any Western capital and enjoy vegan pad thai prepared by street vendors within a few blocks from each other.

Not to mention that Chiang Mai has been crowned one of the most-vegan friendly destinations in Asia by many vegan travelers.